The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter at San Diego State University is a pre-professional student organization that cultivates relationships between students and professional public relations practitioners.

Through the organization, students can attend professional development and resume workshops, network with top PR professionals in the area and have access to internship and job postings.

PRSSA president Graciella Regua said she joined the organization her freshman year because she knew it would teach her the public relations industry and connect her to internship opportunities.

“Every guest speaker I’ve listened to, event I’ve attended and workshop I’ve participated in has taught me something new about PR and the opportunities that await me after college,” Regua said. “Most importantly, it has given me the knowledge and confidence I needed to push myself as a leader and budding professional.”Is PRSSA open to all majors or is it major specific?

Our organization is open to students of all majors who are interested in learning more about public relations.

When it comes to finding new members for your organization, what type of students are you looking for?

We look for students who seek professional development and networking opportunities, and have a passion for ethical and strategic public relations. We want to help members achieve their career goals by providing them with the resources they need to advance themselves as a pre-professional.

When are your meetings and is there a membership fee?

We meet at 7:30 p.m. every other Tuesday in the Legacy Suite of the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union. Our membership fee is $80 annually. This satisfies our requirements as a nationally-affiliated organization and helps send our members to national and regional events.

Our meetings serve as a growth and learning opportunity for members. We bring guest speakers from top PR firms, host professional development and resume workshops, and create networking opportunities.

On April 8 and 9, we will host a PRSSA 2017 Regional Conference, “Dive in the Ocean of PR.” This two-day conference will allow students to network with top PR practitioners, bond with other aspiring professionals and explore the diverse sea of opportunities in public relations. The event will feature guest speakers from the San Diego Zoo Global, Edelman Communications Marketing Firm, the Los Angeles Chargers and more. To learn more about our conference, please visit diveintotheoceanofpr.wordpress.com.

Which SDSU faculty have had an impact on your organization?

Our faculty adviser, Kaye Sweetser, has been instrumental in guiding our chapter. Her exceptional background in public relations and her commitment to fostering student success motivates and inspires our chapter leadership to work to the best of our ability. We couldn’t do it without her constant support.